# Fourier Series / Fourier Transform Question

1. Apr 21, 2005

### SpeedBird

Hello there,

It is part of an exam question.

Firstly I must draw a sketch of this pulse:

v=0 when |t| > a
v=V0( 1 + t/a ) when -a < t <= 0
v=V0( 1 - t/a ) when 0 < t < a

v represents amplitude, V0 represents peak amplitude, t represents
time and 'a' is a constatnt.

i can draw the pulse ok, it is just a triangular pulse that goes from
0 at t = +a and -a to V0 when t = 0.

The bit I am unsure about is obtaining and sketching the frequency
spectrum of this pulse. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Nik

2. Apr 21, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Isn't there an ethics problem with getting assistance with an exam question?

3. Apr 21, 2005

### SpeedBird

maybe if i was in the exam at the time.
it's a question from last years signal analysis exam.
thanks anyway!

Last edited: Apr 21, 2005
4. Apr 24, 2005

### SpeedBird

does anyone have any ideas?

5. Apr 24, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Well, have you computed the fourier transform?

6. Apr 24, 2005

### SpeedBird

i havnt computed the FT. the integration is huge and i get stuck pretty quickly. do you think getting the Freq spectrum could mean getting $$a_k$$ and $$b_k$$ coefficients for the fourier series and plotting their magnitudes against $$k$$?

Last edited: Apr 24, 2005
7. Apr 24, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
I'm having difficulty seeing the trouble -- the integral should be something straight out of a calc II class, whether you use sines & cosines as your basis, or you use complex exponentials.